Thursday, July 14, 2011

Now The FBI Is Looking Into Murdoch Media's Phone-hacking Activities In The USA

Responding to allegations from several Washington lawmakers, the FBI has
opened an investigation into whether Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
attempted to hack into the telephones of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001,
attacks and the families of those who died.

According to federal law enforcement sources, the decision by the
FBI's field office in New York to launch the criminal probe came after
several members of Congress raised concerns in letters to FBI
headquarters, questioning whether reporters for the media empire may
have tried to compromise Sept. 11 victims just as they reportedly hacked
into the phones of numerous individuals in England.

"We are doing this based on their requests," said an FBI source, who
asked not to be identified because the investigation is just getting
underway. "But after reviewing the letters and their allegations, and
after consultation with the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York, we are
proceeding."

At the Department of Justice, officials also acknowledged they are
"reviewing" the allegations by Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), chairman of
the House Homeland Security Committee, and others that Sept. 11 victims
and families may have been put at risk by News Corp.

"If these allegations are proven true," King wrote in his letter to
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, "the conduct would merit felony
charges for attempting to violate various federal statutes related to
corruption of public officials and prohibitions against wiretapping. Any
person found guilty of this purported conduct should receive the
harshest sanctions available under law."

Sara Robinson has worked as an editor or columnist for several national magazines, on beats as varied as sports, travel, and the Olympics; and has contributed to over 80 computer games for EA, Lucasfilm, Disney, and many other companies. A native of California's High Sierra, she spent 20 years in Silicon Valley before moving to Vancouver, BC in 2004. She currently is pursuing an MS in Futures Studies at the University of Houston. You can reach her at srobinson@enginesofmischief.com.